Check out this awesome guide to Washington Quarters' important dates, varieties, and values. You might wonder why this information is important, but understanding these details can make a world of difference in your coin-collecting journey.
Little variations in the coin can result in big price variations, so knowing about key dates, varieties, and value of your coin could lead to some exciting discoveries. The value of a coin is determined by a variety of factors, some of which are quite valuable. So, don't miss out on these details – carefully read each description of the coins and you might just uncover some hidden treasures.
Washington Quarter Key Dates and Varieties
Even so, a few dates are classified as highly rare as important conditional rarities, semi-important dates, or key dates. Here is a look at the Washington quarters with important dates:
- 1932-D Washington Quarters:
- 1932-S Washington Quarter:
- 1934 Doubled Die Obverse:
- 1937 Doubled Die Obverse:
- 1942-D Doubled Die Obverse:
- 1943 Doubled Die Obverse:
- 1943-S Washington Doubled Die Obverse:
- 1950-D “D” Over “S”:
- 1950-S “S” Over “D”:
- 1983-P Washington Quarter:
- 1983-D Washington Quarter:
- 2004-D Wisconsin State Quarter (Extra Leaf High):
The Denver Mint only produced 436,800 coins in the inaugural year of 1932, while the Philadelphia Mint produced over 5 million coins. This Denver coin is a Key Date and significantly more expensive in all grades due to its relative rarity.
Similar to the Denver mint, the San Francisco mint produced very few of these coins. There were only 408,000 of them made because the mintage was so tiny. This coin is rare in the series despite not being regarded as a variety due to its limited production. A circulated specimen is worth at least $100 on average. Uncirculated examples fetch prices well over a grand. On the reverse, look for a tiny "S" beneath the wreath.
The United States Mint produced a coin with the motto "In God We Trust" appearing to be doubled after artists redrew the master die in 1934 due to a manufacturing error. This is known as a doubled die coin among numismatists. This coin is not to be confused with a "double-struck" coin, which would have all the devices and lettering doubled. Rather, search for solid doubling on the "G" letters. The "T", "R", and "S" in the word TRUST are in the word GOD.
A rare coin is the 1937 Washington Quarter with a double die obverse. The doubling is most noticeable and prominent around the date.
There appears to be a clear doubling of the word "LIBERTY" above Washington's portrait in the 1942-D Washington Quarter.
Another coin with doubling was made in 1943 by the Philadelphia Mint. Once more, examine the motto "In God We Trust" closely to find any indications of doubling. The word LIBERTY at the top of the coin also has a minor doubling.
In 1943, San Francisco began producing its own line of doubled die coins. This distribution was more noticeable on the coin because it has doubling in the words "LIBERTY" at the top, "IN GOD WE TRUST" as the motto, and the date at the bottom.
This repunched mintmark (RPM) variety requires a magnifying glass with a magnification of 12X or higher to see. Before now, no mintmark was present on any of the functional dies made at the United States Mint facility in Philadelphia. A worker manually punched the mintmark into the die using a heavy hammer and a metal punch with a small letter. In this case, a "S" was punched into the die. Because the die was going to be shipped to Denver, someone punched a "D" over the "S," and the remaining portion of the "S" is visible at the upper portions of the "D".
Similar to the previously mentioned variety, this RPM variety requires a powerful magnifying glass to be seen. This time, a "D" was punched into the die before it was scheduled to be shipped to the San Francisco mint. Next, a worker at the mint attempted to conceal the error by punching the letter "S" over the "D". The left side of the mintmark has pieces of a "D" poking out.
It is accepted that this date is common in the strictest sense. Uncirculated 1983-P Washington quarters, however, are surprisingly hard to find. However, how is a coin with a 673,535,000 mintage ever considered rare? It is undoubtedly a conditional rarity. First, the US Mint did not release any mint sets in 1983 (or 1982, for that matter). Furthermore, a severe recession meant that very few people were preserving 1983 quarters in uncirculated conditions. $20 is easily obtained for an MS 63 1983-P Washington quarter.
The 1983-D Washington quarter, similar to its 1983-P counterparts, is an unexpectedly rare coin in uncirculated grades. There were not any government-issued uncirculated sets of United States available at the time, and very few were preserved in good condition. An MS63 1983-D Washington quarter is valued at approximately $7, which is many times its face value.
There were no significant scarce dates or varieties between the 1950-S "S Over D" Washington Quarter and 2004. The State Quarters initiative was well underway in 2004. Coins featuring an extra leaf on the corn ear were produced by the Denver Mint. One type of error featured an additional leaf that extended upward.
Washington Quarter Values
The Washington quarter value is determined by the year it was produced and its condition.
| Date MM | Mintage | Very Fine | About Uncirculated | Uncirculated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1932-D | 436,800 | $175 | $600 | $1,600 |
| 1932-S | 408,000 | $125 | $300 | $600 |
| 1934 DDO | Unknown | $200 | $600 | $1,200 |
| 1937 DDO | Unknown | $500 | $1,500 | $2,825 |
| 1942-D DDO | Unknown | $225 | $875 | $2.750 |
| 1943 DDO | Unknown | $2,600 | $6,000 | $9,500 |
| 1943-S DDO | Unknown | $200 | $400 | $850 |
| 1950-D D/S | Unknown | $125 | $200 | $775 |
| 1950-S S/D | Unknown | $185 | $350 | $450 |
| 2004-D Leaf Hi | Unknown | $30 | $70 | $225 |
| 2004-D Leaf Lo | Unknown | $25 | $65 | $100 |
| Common 90% | — | $4.50 | $5.50 | $6.25 |
| Common Clad | — | $0.25 | $0.35 | $1.00 |
Washington Quarter Error
Mistakes in the minting process can occur in any quarter. Certain dates and designs are known to be associated with particular minting errors. Here are a few errors (but not all) to keep in mind.
| Error Type | Grade | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1937 Doubled Die Obverse | XF40 | $550 |
| MS60 | $2,000 | |
| MS65 | $6,500 | |
| 1942-D Doubled Die Obverse | XF40 | $275 |
| MS60 | $2,000 | |
| MS65 | $8,000 | |
| 1943 Doubled Die Obverse | XF40 | $3,000 |
| (rarest of this type of error with only 137 coins total graded by PCGS) | MS60 | $10,000 |
| MS65 | $16,500 | |
| 1943-S Doubled Die Obverse | XF40 | $240 |
| MS60 | $525 | |
| MS65 | $1,150 | |
| 2004-D Wisconsin (extra leaf of corn, High Leaf variety) | MS63 | $145 |
| MS65 | $200 | |
| MS67 | $3,250 | |
| 2004-D Wisconsin (extra leaf of corn, Low Leaf variety) | MS63 | $100 |
| MS65 | $125 | |
| MS67 | $4,500 | |
| 2005 Minnesota (extra tree) | MS63-MS66 | Under $20-$45 |
| MS67 | $70 |
Conclusion
Understanding the key dates, varieties, and values of Washington Quarters can significantly enhance your coin-collecting experience. These little details can lead to big discoveries, and knowing which coins are rare or have unique features can help you find hidden treasures.
Each Washington quarter value is influenced by factors such as rarity, condition, and historical significance. Whether you're just starting out or are an experienced collector, paying attention to these aspects can make your hobby more rewarding.
Happy collecting, and may your search be filled with exciting finds!
